Life sketches of ellen g. white

Chapter XVII
Encouraging Providences
Again I was called to deny self for the good of souls. We
must sacrifice the company of our little Henry, and go
forth to give ourselves unreservedly to the work. My health
was very poor, and should I take my child, he would
necessarily occupy a large share of my time. It was a
severe trial, yet I dared not let him stand in the way of
duty. I believed that the Lord had spared him to us when he
was very sick, and that if I should let him hinder me from
doing my duty, God would remove him from me. Alone before
the Lord, with a sorrowful heart and many tears, I made the
sacrifice, and gave up my only child to be cared for by
another. p. 120, Para. 1, [LS15].
We left Henry in Brother Howland's family, in whom we had
the utmost confidence. They were willing to bear burdens,
in order that we might be left as free as possible to labor
in the cause of God. We knew that they could take better
care of Henry than we could should we take him with us on
our journeys. We knew that it was for his good to have a
steady home and firm discipline, that his sweet temper
might not be injured. p. 120, Para. 2, [LS15].
It was hard to part with my child. His sad little face, as
I left him, was before me day and night; yet in the
strength of the Lord I put him out of my mind, and sought
to do others good. p. 120, Para. 3, [LS15].
For five years Brother Howland's family had the whole
charge of Henry. They cared for him without any recompense,
providing all his clothing, except a present that I brought
him once a year, as Hannah did Samuel. p. 120, Para. 4,
[LS15].
Healing of Gilbert Collins-- One morning in February,
1849, during family prayers at Brother Howland's, I was
shown that it was our duty to go to Dartmouth, Mass. Soon
after, my husband went to the post office, and brought a
letter from Brother Philip Collins, urging us to come to
Dartmouth, for their son was very sick. We went
immediately, and found that the boy, who was thirteen years
old, had been sick for nine weeks with the whooping cough,
and was wasted almost to a skeleton. The parents thought